I'd like to ask all the ladies of the forum, no matter if looking for friendship or romance, how they feel about attending BM events? 

I'm mainly curious about why a lady might not wish to go to any events, even local ones. 

Was it never your intention to get involved in the social side are only registered for dating purposes? 

Is it shyness? 

Do other commitments prevent you going when runs are most often arranged on weekend? 

I'm curious.                                                                                                                                                                              

Hmm, 'ladies'? well, female so:

We're all different and you'll get all kinds of replies -  but the shy ones probably won't reply at all.
It all depends on the individual.
The first BM event I attended was camping at Dent, I went by myself not having chatted with anyone, was the only female there and was welcomed as just another BMer. Same experience when I went to other events - but then having made a few contacts and the whole point of it WAS to meet them.
I can't see the point in joining a site like this and not going to meetings, but I'm sure men do it as much as women.                                                                                                                                                                             

Why do you ask MrMike?
                                                                                                                                                                             

I joined for social side and ride outs. Made great friends both male and female. Always made to feel welcome as a bmer.

I think that those who use BM just as a dating site are losing out somewhat,as I have meet some of the best friends I have ever had the privilege to know.

However it is each to their own and everyone, man or woman, use the site the way that suits them

Why do I ask - really just sheer curiosity - there are so many ladies registered on the site that haven't attended any events, and I'm curious why... after all if you join a social biking site like this, whether to make new friends or hopefully find that special someone, surely the point is to get out and meet people....

Also, we have loads of different types of event - ride outs, social evenings, camping trips - so even if a ride out scares ya, a social night would be an option?

I'm not having a go at anyone not going along to events, just really curious why they don't go??

I do agree RB that it is very much a case of each to their own, and what's good for some will be sheer hell for others, but then I also think you will only get out what you put in - which is to say, meeting new folks takes effort and you have to get out there and do it....  so BM will be even more successful if we can figure out how to get more folks, male and female, to attend events....

Well I'm gonna move back over to England at some point as I'm sick of not having any BM buddies here to hang with...and if I were loaded I would be at a BM event every weekend if I could....so money and location are my reasons for not attending them... :)
On other women not attending, perhaps, as stated above it is hard for them to attend events alone, for all my 'bravado' on here I know I still get nervous about going alone and meeting people at events.... especially if it is mostly big male bikers!!! JMO x                                                                                                                                                                             

It's simply really. Most females feel uneasy about walking up to a group of men and jumping in at the deep end. With the brum night's out we welcome new members by giving them phone for numbers of other members and females so they can phone from out side and meet another females outside before or can phone to have a chat before if they want.

It's interesting that you focused on females here, even though there are probably just as many male members - if not more - who don't attend events either.

But that isn't to say they don't socialise in other ways through the site, and if they are getting what they want out of it, then who's to say they should be doing more?

Like RB I joined for the social side and ride outs, though I'm limited in what I can do - does that mean I'm not making enough effort? And, as Lulu says, finance and location are another factor. There's probably a 1001 ways of using the site and RB sums it up perfectly in her comment :

'However it is each to their own and everyone, man or woman, use the site the way that suits them'.

So to be honest Mike with the greatest respect, I think your question is a non-question.
                                                                                                                                                                             

As JP says we always offer folk a mobile number to ring on arrival for any newbies attending our events.
 
Different folk prefer different things, music nights, pub grub, camping whatever.
 
Some just want folk to chat with.
 
Whatever they choose to do is fine by me :)
 
                                                                                                                                                                              

Hee hee, not trying to wind anyone up here, it is just plain curiosity, and I guess it is only fair to ask the question to guys too.

There's no right answer to it either, as there can be a myriad of reasons, BUT I think JP has hit the nail on the head, and clearly there are ways to support and encourage ladies to attend their first event, so one question is, going forward, should we consider offering a personal contact for events , sowe can shortcut that first timer worry?

Mike, that would be down to the individual who is organising the event, as to whether they are happy to give out their mobile number :)                                                                                                                                                                             

It's an internet site. A person can join in without ever coming face to face with another member. I seriously doubt that anyone on the planet is too shy to click a mouse.
Women ( don't call them 'ladies', it's condescending) are more than capable of deciding for themselves what they want to do.
70,000 members? Yeah right. There's probably only a hundred or so that ever do any bike stuff.
So there's no need to look for ways to tease the pretty little things out of their shells and into your tent.
Modern women go where they want, when they want and with whom they want.
I put several events on a year . Both male and females attend . Some with bikes, some without.
It's mostly the same attendees and I would vouch for everyone of them as quality people that would make anyone welcome.
If anyone wants to try a quality BM weekend. Give me a nod or pm or post hi on any of my threads.
Dusty .                                                                                                                                                                             

Very well put Dustin :)                                                                                                                                                                             

Ladies is condescending? Wow, I call it polite .... tee hee!

Yep Jackie, of course they would, and to be honest I don't expect many people would want to publish their personal number on a public site, so that's not gonna happen.                                                                                                                                                                              

It hasn't always been possible to get to as many events as I would like too...
Being without a bike at the moment hasn't helped!!
However, the events I have been too and the people I have met have 98% been fantastic!! Been great to make new friends and put faces to names!  People have always been friendly on here and are just the same when you meet them face to face!!
Roll on KISS :) (PS nice to be called a lady MrMike ;) )                                                                                                                                                                             

If 'ladies' is condescending what on earth is 'pretty young things'?

I was nervous of meeting a group of BMers up at Squires less than three weeks after i joined, but having a contact number for JP helped greatly. Going to Squires wasnt an issue as it has been my local hangout for years, n years n years, get the picture?! It was the fact of walking into a group of strangers.

However I was wrong to be nervous as i was welcomed immediately and although i only stayed for a short time i felt that the experience was positive, each time got better. I now have no qualms about turning up to meets/rideouts/events on my own at all. The fact that most members see me coming and run away is however a little perturbing!! Lol.

Over the past 2 yrs, i have carried JPs idea on and upon any newbie showing interest when chatting to me in attending an event or meet (I am attending) I immediately offer my mobile number and ensure they know I will be there to meet them. To date each of them (male and female) have welcomed a friendly (if somewhat weird) face to at least introduce them to other BMers.

I defo dont think the issue relates to gender as i have been approached by both male n female members who were nervous about the whole idea of meeting a bunch of strangers.

As stated above 'it is each to their own and everyone, man or woman, use the site the way that suits them'.

MrMike, I'd say a fair question to anyone on site who wants to be more "social". I went on my first rideout to Wales this weekend, a little nervous/apprehensive but as its been said I was welcomed and made to feel very welcome. So for all members, female (laydeeees!) or male (w'sup) I would recommend just going along to a meet and being part of a great group of people.
I know this has been pitched as a question to the female populous (is that OK ladies?...doh! I mean..ah bugger it)
But it can equally apply to men too!

Oh p.s. I did offer a lift on the Wales rideout but got no reply, but it won't stop me offering more lifts to people needing to get to a meet :-) (ahem prefer female of course! :-D)

Just my tuppence...

I think it was established this weekend that I am a burd....not sure where that puts me in the debate!

Joking aside. This weekend there was just two riders of the non male persuasion, now I get the weather was pants and it was hit n miss if I was going, but to be honest, even with good weather not many female riders turn up to things. It's a shame, especially as we usually have a brilliant time.

On the silver lining side....Oli and I had five rather good looking lovely men, and Stuie, to ourselves.